CHR wants transparency in situation of inmates to prevent deaths due to COVID-19

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Sunday called for transparency in the situation of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) after a number of deaths due to COVID-19 were reported.

In a statement, CHR underscored that disclosure of information on the PDLs’ deaths will allow government agencies to establish safeguards in prisons to prevent more deaths.

“In light of reported deaths of PDLs while in prisons and detention facilities, CHR calls for transparency and openness from the government in reporting the situation of PDLs in the country,” CHR said.

CHR cited the National Privacy Commission’s statement that the Data Privacy Act “is not a cloak for denying the public’s right to know.”

“Public interest in the face of alleged deaths of high-profile inmates due to Covid-19, necessitates disclosure of relevant information about their deaths—both in the interest of justice, as well as in crafting sensible ways forward in preventing further deaths in prisons and detention facilities,” it added.

Nine high-profile inmates from the National Bilibid Prison have died of COVID-19, but the Bureau of Correction refused to disclose their names citing the Data Privacy Act.

There is a 534% prison congestion rate in detention facilities as of March 2020, CHR said citing information from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology.

“Devising or improving strategies to mitigate the spread of the virus becomes all the more imperative and in this case it is crucial to understand where the existing protocols and initiatives might have failed to curb the spread of the virus,” it noted.

JE